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Communications provider Lodestar Networks, which specialises in building local community 4G mobile (calls and broadband) networks using shared UK radio spectrum, has called on the regulator to improve the current licensing framework so that networks like theirs don’t have to find it so “difficult … to grow beyond isolated indoor sites or short-lived trials“.
At present Lodestar has already deployed (trials) a number of small community mobile networks in parts of Nuneaton, Kings Norton, Burntwood and Great Gransden across different parts of England. The operator also has plans to expand into several more locations, but they argue that Ofcom’s current approach to share spectrum licensing makes it difficult for them to grow beyond limited trials.
The operator states that Ofcom’s standard low-power 2.3GHz (LTE Band 40) Shared Access product costs £80 a year for 10MHz of spectrum frequency or £160 a year for 20MHz in each licensed area. Each area has a radius of 50 metres and the standard product is currently limited to indoor use. “One hundred geographically separate 20MHz areas would therefore cost £16,000 every year before equipment, installation, power, backhaul, core-network operation or customer support,” said Loadstar.